Mark Robinson: Warwickshire first-team coach says club won't rush decision over new captain

Warwickshire first-team coach Mark Robinson says they will keep an "open" approach to who will replace Will Rhodes as captain and will consider adding another new signing to do it.

Rhodes stepped down last week after four seasons in the role, having led the Bears to the County Championship title in 2021.

"He'll go down in history," Robinson told BBC Radio WM.

"I've plotted and planned with Will in the last few years - I'll miss him."

Rhodes, 28, took the decision to give up the captaincy to fully focus on scoring runs after seeing his output in the Championship drop for the last two years.

Robinson said Rhodes told him about his intention to quit as skipper towards the end of last season, so he had been preparing for a while prior to the official announcement.

"Will spoke to me a couple of games out so it wasn't a shock and we spoke a little bit at the end of the season to make sure it was what he wanted.

"You've got to respect what he's given the team emotionally and he's ready to pass on the baton to somebody else."

Robinson and the Bears' performance director Gavin Larson will lead the process of finding a new captain, with Robinson saying there were a couple of "internal" options - including vice captain Alex Davies - as well as casting the net further afield.

"We'll take stock and we've got a couple of people internally and there may be someone on the outside we can bring in but it won't be a quick decision," Robinson said.

"We want to keep everything open - the club's got a winter to decide what direction we want to go. We can see what options we've got because it's a big decision."

Robinson says whoever gets the job, it will be a bit of a "leap of faith" that they will thrive under the pressure of leading the team.

"What I do know is generally it takes a toll on somebody. They give so much to the job and some thrive under the opportunity to lead others have the burden of responsibility and it drags them down so you make the decision with the best knowledge you got of the individuals."

Warwickshire finished fourth in the County Championship last season and made the knockout stages of both white-ball competitions having topped both their T20 Blast and One-Day Cup groups.

This winter they have started their planned overhaul of their pace department with the signing of Sussex left-armer George Garton and securing the return to Edgbaston of Pakistan quick Hasan Ali.

Robinson said Hasan coming back was an "exciting moment" for the squad after he took 24 wickets in six red-ball matches and nine in the Blast.

"Has gives us so much energy and life - he fitted in brilliantly as an overseas with that desire to win."

As for Garton, Robinson said the 26-year-old's focus will be on playing white-ball cricket but said red-ball matches could come into the picture "in time".

"George has had a difficult couple of years - he's not been on the park [in red-ball cricket] as much as he would've liked," he said.

"He's hungry and hugely competitive and can do all three disciplines really well - he is a match-changer.

"We're lucky to have him and he's hungry to get back into England contention and what you want as a head coach is a cricket who wants to prove points."

Mark Robinson was talking to BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford.